II Chronicles 33: A King's Descent and Redemption
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:
But did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.
For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
Also he built altars in the house of the Lord, whereof the Lord had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.
And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.
And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.
And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:
Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.
So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel.
And the Lord spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.
Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God.
Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah.
And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the Lord, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the Lord, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.
And he repaired the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel.
Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the Lord their God only.
Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of the Lord God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel.
His prayer also, and how God was intreated of him, and all his sin, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers.
So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.
Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem.
But he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them;
And humbled not himself before the Lord, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.
And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house.
But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.
II Chronicles 33 presents a stark contrast between profound wickedness and unexpected repentance. The chapter chronicles the reign of Manasseh, a king who plunged Judah into unprecedented depths of idolatry and wickedness, followed by his humbling experience and eventual, though limited, reforms. This narrative offers powerful lessons about the consequences of disobedience, the boundless mercy of God, and the enduring impact of leadership.
Manasseh's Wicked Reign (II Chronicles 33:1-9)
Manasseh's reign marks a tragic low point in Judah's history. Ascending to the throne at the young age of twelve, he quickly abandoned the godly example of his father, Hezekiah (II Chronicles 33:1-2). The chronicler emphasizes that Manasseh "did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD" (II Chronicles 33:2), a phrase that encapsulates the comprehensive nature of his apostasy. He systematically dismantled the religious reforms of his father, rebuilding the high places and re-establishing altars for Baal worship (II Chronicles 33:3). This was more than just a lapse in judgment; it was a deliberate rejection of the covenant God had made with Israel.
Manasseh embraced and promoted every form of degrading worship imaginable. He constructed altars to the celestial bodies, worshipping the creation rather than the Creator (II Chronicles 33:5). The unthinkable act of child sacrifice, offering his own sons in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, further illustrates the depths of his depravity. He also practiced witchcraft, divination, and sorcery, consulting mediums and spiritists, embracing the occult practices explicitly forbidden by God (II Chronicles 33:6).
The desecration extended to the very heart of God's dwelling place. Manasseh built altars in the Temple of the LORD, the very place where God had declared, "My Name will remain forever in Jerusalem" (II Chronicles 33:4). He then committed the ultimate act of defiance by erecting a carved image of an idol within the Temple itself (II Chronicles 33:7). This act not only defiled the sacred space but also directly challenged God's sovereignty and exclusive claim to worship.
The chronicler concludes that Manasseh led Judah to commit even greater evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed before Israel entered the Promised Land (II Chronicles 33:9). This is a staggering indictment, highlighting the complete moral and spiritual collapse of the nation under Manasseh's leadership. God had driven out the Canaanites because of their wickedness, and now His chosen people, the beneficiaries of His grace, were surpassing them in their abominations.
Discipline and Repentance (II Chronicles 33:10-13)
God, in His longsuffering, did not immediately abandon Manasseh and Judah. He spoke to them, warning them of the consequences of their sin (II Chronicles 33:10). However, they refused to listen, hardening their hearts to God's pleas.
As a result, God brought severe discipline upon Manasseh. The Assyrians captured him and took him to Babylon, a humiliating and painful experience (II Chronicles 33:11). Bound with hooks and shackles, the once-powerful king was reduced to a prisoner in a foreign land.
It was in this moment of profound distress that Manasseh finally turned to God. Humbled by his circumstances, he sought the Lord's favor and repented before the God of his ancestors (II Chronicles 33:12). This is a pivotal moment in the chapter, demonstrating the transformative power of repentance.
The Lord, in His infinite mercy, heard Manasseh's prayer and responded to his humility. He restored Manasseh to his throne in Jerusalem, demonstrating His forgiveness and willingness to redeem even the most wayward of sinners (II Chronicles 33:13). This restoration led Manasseh to acknowledge the sovereignty of God, finally understanding that "the LORD is God."
Manasseh's Limited Reforms (II Chronicles 33:14-17)
Upon his return to Jerusalem, Manasseh embarked on a path of reform, attempting to undo the damage he had inflicted upon the nation. He fortified the city, strengthening its defenses against potential attacks (II Chronicles 33:14). He removed the idols and pagan altars he had erected and reinstituted the true worship of the God of Israel (II Chronicles 33:15-16).
However, the chronicler notes that Manasseh's reforms were limited. The people continued to offer sacrifices at the high places, although now they were directed to the LORD their God (II Chronicles 33:17). This suggests that while Manasseh's personal repentance was genuine, its impact on the nation was incomplete. The ingrained habits of idolatry and syncretism proved difficult to eradicate entirely.
The Reign of Amon (II Chronicles 33:18-25)
The chapter concludes with the brief and tragic reign of Manasseh's son, Amon (II Chronicles 33:18-20). Amon, unlike his father, refused to humble himself before the LORD (II Chronicles 33:22-23). He repeated many of the sins of his father, increasing his own guilt and leading the nation further astray.
Amon's wickedness ultimately led to his assassination. However, the people of the land rose up and executed his conspirators, placing Josiah, Amon's son, on the throne (II Chronicles 33:24-25). This sets the stage for the reign of Josiah, a king who would lead Judah in a more thorough and lasting revival (II Chronicles 34-35).
II Chronicles 33 serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of sin and the boundless grace of God. Manasseh's story is a testament to the fact that no one is beyond redemption, and that even the most hardened hearts can be softened by genuine repentance. However, it also highlights the enduring impact of leadership and the challenges of reversing deeply ingrained patterns of sin within a community. The limited success of Manasseh's reforms underscores the need for sustained commitment and a comprehensive approach to spiritual renewal.
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:
But did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.
For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
Also he built altars in the house of the Lord, whereof the Lord had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.
And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.
And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.
And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:
Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.
So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel.
And the Lord spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.
Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God.
Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah.
And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the Lord, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the Lord, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.
And he repaired the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel.
Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the Lord their God only.
Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of the Lord God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel.
His prayer also, and how God was intreated of him, and all his sin, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers.
So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.
Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem.
But he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them;
And humbled not himself before the Lord, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.
And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house.
But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.
II Chronicles 33 presents a stark contrast between profound wickedness and unexpected repentance. The chapter chronicles the reign of Manasseh, a king who plunged Judah into unprecedented depths of idolatry and wickedness, followed by his humbling experience and eventual, though limited, reforms. This narrative offers powerful lessons about the consequences of disobedience, the boundless mercy of God, and the enduring impact of leadership.
Manasseh's Wicked Reign (II Chronicles 33:1-9)
Manasseh's reign marks a tragic low point in Judah's history. Ascending to the throne at the young age of twelve, he quickly abandoned the godly example of his father, Hezekiah (II Chronicles 33:1-2). The chronicler emphasizes that Manasseh "did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD" (II Chronicles 33:2), a phrase that encapsulates the comprehensive nature of his apostasy. He systematically dismantled the religious reforms of his father, rebuilding the high places and re-establishing altars for Baal worship (II Chronicles 33:3). This was more than just a lapse in judgment; it was a deliberate rejection of the covenant God had made with Israel.
Manasseh embraced and promoted every form of degrading worship imaginable. He constructed altars to the celestial bodies, worshipping the creation rather than the Creator (II Chronicles 33:5). The unthinkable act of child sacrifice, offering his own sons in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, further illustrates the depths of his depravity. He also practiced witchcraft, divination, and sorcery, consulting mediums and spiritists, embracing the occult practices explicitly forbidden by God (II Chronicles 33:6).
The desecration extended to the very heart of God's dwelling place. Manasseh built altars in the Temple of the LORD, the very place where God had declared, "My Name will remain forever in Jerusalem" (II Chronicles 33:4). He then committed the ultimate act of defiance by erecting a carved image of an idol within the Temple itself (II Chronicles 33:7). This act not only defiled the sacred space but also directly challenged God's sovereignty and exclusive claim to worship.
The chronicler concludes that Manasseh led Judah to commit even greater evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed before Israel entered the Promised Land (II Chronicles 33:9). This is a staggering indictment, highlighting the complete moral and spiritual collapse of the nation under Manasseh's leadership. God had driven out the Canaanites because of their wickedness, and now His chosen people, the beneficiaries of His grace, were surpassing them in their abominations.
Discipline and Repentance (II Chronicles 33:10-13)
God, in His longsuffering, did not immediately abandon Manasseh and Judah. He spoke to them, warning them of the consequences of their sin (II Chronicles 33:10). However, they refused to listen, hardening their hearts to God's pleas.
As a result, God brought severe discipline upon Manasseh. The Assyrians captured him and took him to Babylon, a humiliating and painful experience (II Chronicles 33:11). Bound with hooks and shackles, the once-powerful king was reduced to a prisoner in a foreign land.
It was in this moment of profound distress that Manasseh finally turned to God. Humbled by his circumstances, he sought the Lord's favor and repented before the God of his ancestors (II Chronicles 33:12). This is a pivotal moment in the chapter, demonstrating the transformative power of repentance.
The Lord, in His infinite mercy, heard Manasseh's prayer and responded to his humility. He restored Manasseh to his throne in Jerusalem, demonstrating His forgiveness and willingness to redeem even the most wayward of sinners (II Chronicles 33:13). This restoration led Manasseh to acknowledge the sovereignty of God, finally understanding that "the LORD is God."
Manasseh's Limited Reforms (II Chronicles 33:14-17)
Upon his return to Jerusalem, Manasseh embarked on a path of reform, attempting to undo the damage he had inflicted upon the nation. He fortified the city, strengthening its defenses against potential attacks (II Chronicles 33:14). He removed the idols and pagan altars he had erected and reinstituted the true worship of the God of Israel (II Chronicles 33:15-16).
However, the chronicler notes that Manasseh's reforms were limited. The people continued to offer sacrifices at the high places, although now they were directed to the LORD their God (II Chronicles 33:17). This suggests that while Manasseh's personal repentance was genuine, its impact on the nation was incomplete. The ingrained habits of idolatry and syncretism proved difficult to eradicate entirely.
The Reign of Amon (II Chronicles 33:18-25)
The chapter concludes with the brief and tragic reign of Manasseh's son, Amon (II Chronicles 33:18-20). Amon, unlike his father, refused to humble himself before the LORD (II Chronicles 33:22-23). He repeated many of the sins of his father, increasing his own guilt and leading the nation further astray.
Amon's wickedness ultimately led to his assassination. However, the people of the land rose up and executed his conspirators, placing Josiah, Amon's son, on the throne (II Chronicles 33:24-25). This sets the stage for the reign of Josiah, a king who would lead Judah in a more thorough and lasting revival (II Chronicles 34-35).
II Chronicles 33 serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of sin and the boundless grace of God. Manasseh's story is a testament to the fact that no one is beyond redemption, and that even the most hardened hearts can be softened by genuine repentance. However, it also highlights the enduring impact of leadership and the challenges of reversing deeply ingrained patterns of sin within a community. The limited success of Manasseh's reforms underscores the need for sustained commitment and a comprehensive approach to spiritual renewal.